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EU Probes Oracle-Sun Deal, Cites Open-Source Issue By Aoife White September 4, 2009 7:24AM     Oracle's bid for Sun marks new territory for the company, turning it into more of a one-stop technology shop, like IBM and Hewlett-Packard. Sun is the world's No. 4 maker of computer servers, which power Web sites and corporate back offices. In many cases those servers run database software such as MySQL or Oracle products.   Related Topics Sun Microsystems Oracle Merger Acquisition Antitrust Data Storage Enterprise Hardware MySQL Latest News Plasma-TV Ban Could Be Costly Barnes & Noble Nook Is Delayed Flat PC Shipments Hurt Dell's Stock Ballmer Says Windows 7 Sales Good New Pogoplug 'Cloud' Gets Social European Union regulators Thursday launched an antitrust probe into U.S. software maker Oracle Corp.'s takeover of Sun Microsystems Inc., saying they wanted to make sure Oracle wouldn't hinder Sun's rival open-source database software. EU approval is the main stumbling block for the $7.4 billion deal, which Oracle had hoped to close this summer and has already been cleared in the U.S. by the Department of Justice. The European Commission now has until Jan. 19 before it makes a final decision to clear the deal or block it. In some cases, such as with Intel Corp., the EU has been a stricter antitrust regulator than the U.S., and often presses companies to make changes that eliminate antitrust worries, such as selling off parts of their business. EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said regulators needed to examine whether customers could have less choice or see higher prices "when the world's biggest proprietary database company proposes to take over the world's leading open-source database company." Sun bought open-source database provider MySQL last year for $1 billion as a way to find more customers for its computer hardware. Because MySQL (pronounced "my sequel") is open-source, its underlying coding is given away for free, and Sun doesn't sell the software itself. In contrast, Oracle is a leading vendor of database software that gets sold to businesses. Database software forms the underpinnings of most things people do in business or on the Web. It helps companies manage and retrieve data they've stored, such as payroll or sales information. Typing in a search term, for example, forces a Web site to scour a database and spit out an answer. The EU officials claim that MySQL, already popular among Web-based companies, will increasingly threaten Oracle's database software as it adds features and attracts more customers. The regulators questioned "Oracle's incentive to further develop MySQL as an open source database." "In the current economic context, all companies are looking for cost-effective (information-technology) solutions, and systems based on open-source software are increasingly emerging as viable alternatives to proprietary solutions," Kroes said. "The commission has to ensure that such alternatives would continue to be available." Sun and Oracle had no immediate comment Thursday. EU spokesman Jonathan Todd said the EU was merely matching the U.S. in launching an in-depth investigation into the takeover. Todd stressed that the EU will use the coming weeks to weigh "serious doubts" about the deal -- but that it could pass EU scrutiny unhindered. (continued...) 1  |  2  |  Next Page >   © 2009 Associated Press/AP Online under contract with YellowBrix. All rights reserved.   Advertisement  Software 1.   FAA Glitch Causes Air Travel Delays 2.   Call of Duty Is Setting Records 3.   MS Told To Stop Some Windows Sales 4.   Peer-to-Peer Software Ban Sought 5.   Better Maps, Made by Volunteers Windows 7: More Secure, More Fun New OS can make users' lives easier. Average Rating: FAA Glitch Causes Air Travel Delays Computer software malfunction cited. Average Rating: Better Maps, Made by Volunteers Companies rely on locals with GPS. Average Rating:

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Network Security Spotlight

House Lawmakers Push Ban on Peer-to-Peer Software Stung by an embarrassing electronic leak revealing ethics investigations into dozens of lawmakers, Congress moved to prohibit federal employees from using the file-sharing software blamed for the disclosure.   GAO: Los Alamos Computer Security Has Weaknesses Security weaknesses uncovered in Los Alamos National Laboratory's computer network increase the risk of a classified-information breach, says the Government Accountability Office.   Computer Security Firm Fortinet Plans IPO This Week Fortinet plans to go public in an initial public offering, giving investors a chance to tap a network security provider with sales that are expected to grow. The IPO could be valued at $137.5 million or more.

Enterprise Hardware Spotlight

Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.   New Pogoplug 'Personal Cloud' Does Social Networking Cloud Engines has released its newest version of the Pogoplug, a small "multimedia sharing device" that connects hard drives to the Internet and allows a user to access the files remotely.   Apple Tablet Rumored Delayed as Publisher Gears Up There have been so many rumors of an Apple tablet that it has taken on legendary status. But now the legend is being revised with reports of a delay and that a major publisher is getting ready.

Enterprise Technology Spotlight

Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.   Smartphones: A Bigger Target for Security Threats Smartphones are increasingly prevalent and adept at handling more tasks, including trading stocks, paying bills, and buying stuff online. That makes them attractive to thieves and hackers.   FBI Says Hackers Targeting Law Firms, PR Companies Hackers are targeting law firms and public relations companies with a sophisticated e-mail scheme that breaks into their computer networks to steal sensitive data, often linked to large corporate clients.

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